Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

droopsnout

Your place looks fantastic! Lucky you!

Not sure I could take part in home exchanges, though. It's not because we have anything of great value, because we don't. I expect the most valuable thing we've got after the car and house is this laptop!

And it's not because I don't trust people in our house, either. Although I would be concerned that visitors wouldn't be able to get assistance in the event of, say, a boiler breakdown.

I think my hang-up is just that, to me, our house is an intensely personal and private place. I guess the Americans would just say that I am anally retentive. Although I've never really understood what my bum has got to do with anything very much.

seven-day-weekend

I think droopsnout, because we have had lodgers on and off throughout our married life, or various students staying over when my husband was training to be a teacher, or our son's friends staying, and with this house here we've always had at least three sets of visitors a year, we are used to people being in our house and so it doesn't bother us providing that they don't vandalise it!

Obviously with house exchange you lock away things that are private - you could even have one room where their was 'no entry' if you had a lot of private stuff. We'll probably lock our computer room.

jlar_2

First time I have done this so please excuse mistakes etc. My Parents both 84 are with Southern Electricity don't have computer so I have used my email etc to register them for online service. they will save an extra 1.5% on bills. I also applied for them to have a water meter because they are not available in their area Thames Water have reduced there tariff to low users. Not a huge amount but better in their bank a/c than TWUL.

Merrywidow

So SDW now we know what you both look like - thanks. Thought I would share with you that I am really cheesed off today, had two teeth out yesterday and I can't eat yet. They were bottom teeth at the front that were very loose and had to go. (one broke off remember>)Now I am proud owner of a couple of plastic ones! Dentist first thought I would need implants but were not needed - thrilled - it saved two times 2 grand - whew. Off to make some scrambled eggs to suck on - hey ho.

droopsnout

Commiserations. When the man* upstairs designed teeth, He could have done a rather better job, I reckon. Hope you feel fully fit very soon again, Merrywidow.

* Other sexes are available.

droopsnout

Yes, s-d-w, I follow the plot. I reckon I'd be uneasy, though.

But if the collapse of the pound continues, I reckon we could be camping out on our so-called "orchard" whilst we rent out the house for the summer. Have you seen the rates today?!

droopsnout

And, following s-d-w's revelations, if anyone's interested, you can find some amateur photos of our place here.

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

Yes, s-d-w, I follow the plot. I reckon I'd be uneasy, though.

But if the collapse of the pound continues, I reckon we could be camping out on our so-called "orchard" whilst we rent out the house for the summer. Have you seen the rates today?!

Oh yes! :eek: I arranged to transfer some money the other day when it was 1.3 and my husband told me to cancel the transaction as the exchange rate was too low:eek:

Can't hold out much longer so I'm hoping for at least 1.3 again in the next few days.

We may have someone who wants to rent our house for two months. If they do, we'll live in our UK house for a few months and I will try and get some temping work.

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

And, following s-d-w's revelations, if anyone's interested, you can find some amateur photos of our place here.

Droopsnout, your house looks terrific, and very big! Is it a converted chapel or something similar?

seven-day-weekend

Merrywidow wrote: »

So SDW now we know what you both look like - thanks. Thought I would share with you that I am really cheesed off today, had two teeth out yesterday and I can't eat yet. They were bottom teeth at the front that were very loose and had to go. (one broke off remember>)Now I am proud owner of a couple of plastic ones! Dentist first thought I would need implants but were not needed - thrilled - it saved two times 2 grand - whew. Off to make some scrambled eggs to suck on - hey ho.

Hope you are feeling better now Merry Widow. I live in fear and dread that my wisdom teeth will have to be operated on (as my English dentist keeps threatening). Glad you doidn't have to fork out all that money.

As regarding what we look like- although you can't see my husband's face, you can see his hair, and yes - it is that colour, that thick and now he's had it cut his curls have come back - and he's 60 in January! Drat him, I have to put henna on mine!!

He scrubs up well, as someone once said.